Our First Día de los Muertos Altar

Posted on November 1, 2013

It is so interesting how many cultures start mixing or blending together, for me, this is something fascinating. For example, I lived 3 years in Mexico and I learned and absorbed a lot of its culture but it is not until now that I realize how much. Now living in the US where there is even other cultures to learn from, the Mexican culture is very strong and more so here in San Diego.

When I lived in Mexico I watched and experienced the day of the dead traditions, day of the dead altars and I visited my friend’s houses and saw them all for real but now I can really put everything to practice because I have my own family and I want this holiday to be part of our traditions, I am definitely adopting it.

As I mentioned before, we don’t celebrate Día de los Muertos in Venezuela but I do feel it a lot around here, there are plenty of celebrations in the city and even Adrian’s school has a Day of the Dead festival celebration which we will be joining!

So finally I made a day of the dead altar for our family to remember our loved ones that passed away. My grandmother and one of the kid’s grandmothers. I love it, I love how the kids got involved and started helping me (mostly Adrian) to think what else we could add that they would like, they started asking me questions about my grandmother and what did she like and how was she. I didn’t foresee that part and thought it was the best, they are learning about their family, generations back.

It’s such a great way of remembering them and help the kids keep a connection with them, being in touch with the spiritual and the circle of life in a very healthy way without fears.

Our Día de los Muertos altar is small and we couldn’t fit as much as we wanted to after the basics like Marigold flowers, candles and Day of the Dead bread but we are loving it and we will prepare for next year’s to be bigger and have more ofrendas.

Another part I really enjoyed was to take pictures of it, at the moment I was doing it and going back and forth in different angles I felt like I was paying tribute with my camera ♥.

It's so fascinating that so many of us here in the U.S. are adopting this holiday, isn't it? You did a beautiful job and I love that you felt you were paying tribute as you took photos… It feels very intimate to take a close up on certain items and choose just the right angle, I agree. Besos!